If you have a very small dog — say, under 10 lbs. — you have it made, as far as flying goes. There are any number of charming over-the-shoulder carriers that slip easily under your seat, and if you (like me) have an iffy back, you can find wheeled carriers that also work well.… Read the rest
Earlier this year (okay, much earlier this year), reader Diane sent me a message about how she’d handled a trip from Washington, D.C. to Los Angeles with her pup Biscuit. They flew on an Alaska Airlines 737-800 (check out previous Dog Jaunt posts here and here about the under-seat space on an Alaska 737-800), and Diane was concerned that Biscuit’s large Sherpa carrier (19″ long) would be too long even for the middle seat space.… Read the rest
Like the website for LaGuardia Airport, the website for Newark merely states that pet relief areas are available. It’s up to you to “[f]ollow the signs in the baggage claim areas or ask a Customer Care Representative for information.”
When I arrived at the baggage claim level of Terminal A, I couldn’t find a single sign.… Read the rest
The website for New York’s LaGuardia Airport refers to the airport’s pet relief areas, but doesn’t provide any details about how to find them: “All passenger terminals at the Port Authority’s airports provide these areas to conform with the federal Air Carrier Access Act, which mandates such areas for service animals who travel with air passengers.… Read the rest
I can’t remember the last time I traveled First Class. Could it have been 30 years ago? Could it have been never? I chose to make First Class reservations on our Delta flight from New York to Tampa because I had the right number of miles, and because Delta’s Economy seat pitch is so evil that after our last flight my husband and I vowed never to fly on the dratted airline again.… Read the rest
Getting ready for another flight tomorrow morning, I realized that I forgot to tell you about a new TSA requirement I encountered on this trip: After I passed through the metal detectors at Seattle and at LaGuardia (though not at Baltimore), I was asked to wait until a TSA agent could break free and take me (holding Chloe) over to a counter where both of my hands were wiped with a swab — the same kind of swab they use on your suitcase sometimes, looking for traces of explosives.… Read the rest
Hartford’s Bradley International Airport has such a modest website that I expected a modest airport too — but although older buildings suggest that it was once very modest indeed, BDL’s current main building is large and attractive. This is an airport with plans for the future, it seems — and I surely do hope that they include a better pet relief area, because this is one of the lamest I’ve encountered.… Read the rest
Back in 2009, I reviewed the large-sized Bergan Comfort Carrier (it also comes in small), and concluded that it was well-designed but poorly made — it’s inexpensive, so it would be a reasonable choice for a trip or two, but not my pick for repeated use.… Read the rest
For Dog Jaunt’s last giveaway, I asked people to enter by leaving a comment with a pet travel tip. After years of getting (and posting) e-mails from you guys with your reports from the road, I knew that you have ideas I’ve never thought of — and sure enough, the giveaway entries were splendid.… Read the rest
Yet again, I have you guys to thank for this one: What did I think of The One Bag, asked a reader [Maureen] whose name is now lost in the mists of Facebook? I scrabbled around on Google, found the bag, and thought that I’d really like to see it in person.… Read the rest
